Click to view current
issue highlights

15 Comments so far:

1. Paula on March 13, 2008 10:21 pm

   How can I handle an adult child that deny’s the illness is happening, has left her husband and moved in with another man?

2. Gloria (Pietrangelo) Kurkowski on March 14, 2008 12:39 am

   Everytime I forget to pray/talk to God and stay close to Him, my bipolar depression worsens and I find myself close to the edge. I remember how empowered I feel when I read the Bible, so I read the scripture that encourage me and instruct me to count all the blessings God has bestowed to me and how much He loves me. The Bible has the answers in how to control and choose my thoughts and trust my life to Him. That is the only sure way I am able to feel my weakness is really what makes me draw closer to God and that is the place where I find the most peace and comfort. Gloria K.,NJ

3. Cynthia M. Sabotka on March 14, 2008 3:01 am

   It is easy to forget to count our blessings. I find the disease and the medications tend to quash the emotion of feelings that contribute to the concept of blessings. Certainly, we can thank God for what he continues to give us but what about those who do not believe?

   Just for fun, make a “hit” list, if you will. Jot down the good things in your life (i.e. your dog, your friend, your loves). Soon and hopefully for the sake of feeling better, expressions of goodness, and value, and appreciation will appear on your paper, voila! read each word aloud … no one will hear you … Peace.

4. Linda Walker on March 14, 2008 5:24 am

   Twenty-one years ago, after a horrendous head-on car crash and injuries,I prayed upon returning home, and I just thanked God for giving me my life back! I was diagnosed as “bi-polar” back then, and I’ve struggled with and coped with what that has meant to be bi-polar. I have advocated for others with “mental ill health” like mine since that time through the Canadian Mental Health Organization. That is how I’ve come to Count my Blessings!! It has given me Life!

5. kevin johnson on March 15, 2008 2:27 pm

   while in the grip of a bi-polar grind.i wait patiently.i pray through gnashed teeth.i give thanks for the test.i pray for the strength to get through another grinding bout of deppression.i give praise.i count all of the blessing that have been bestowed upon me and mine.i think about that test not being any harder than i can handle thing.
   i think about pauls affliction that he asked god to relieve.the response was,my grace is sufficient for thee.

6. Mary Clements on March 16, 2008 8:06 am

   Lets start talking about what to do when your family falls apart. Why not talk about what to do when your family has so many issues you can’t handle it? When you are doing what you ARE supposed to do and have done ALL the research and have done EVERYTHING you are supposed to do and still life falls appart and then you cant handle it because your family decides they give up on you. THEN WHAT?

7. darlene brown on March 16, 2008 5:00 pm

   Why do tv shows always make us out to be crazed murders just laying in wait too kill our entire families . Or se duce tenage children . Would somebody p lease produce something more positive . BIPOLAR people are not all the same we are a uniqoe misunderstood , talented , creation of God . Not of the devil .

8. darlene brown on March 16, 2008 5:27 pm

   Check to see if there is a bipolar support group in your area . I and my non-bipolar husband attend one weekly . It has helped us tremendously . And there are several parents of biplar children , grown or dtherwise . Visit the DBSA open arms website wwwDBSAlliance.org take care and God bless

9. darlene brown on March 16, 2008 6:12 pm

   I think that it is a crime how Brittny is being exploited by the media . Jesus she is allowed not even a spec of privacy to fallapart in . She is being pushed into a downward spiral . And seems to be recieveing no adiquate care . I have to ask what would the rest of us do If our lives were so publised . I ask everyone to take a minute and really ponder on how difficult her life right now must be right now and every second from now . Please pray for her . I will . And thank God that I’m not in her shoes .

10. Bridge on March 17, 2008 6:34 am

    Paula,I hate to say you can never handle a adult child that will deny illness.When they seek to accept it and take action against it you will be able to handle them then.

11. Maria Bohn on March 17, 2008 4:29 pm

    I was diagnosed with BP around 36. I thought things would be diffent tan they turned out. I am a complicated case my doctor says. I am mostly dipressed. But, when I get manic I’m really out there. I was in church for a while but beame ashamed to go. I thougt everyone knew and I didn’t want that. So, I stopped going and became insociable, Tis went on for years and I slowly pushed away any contact I had. Even my two sisters. First, my husband and I started going from church to church, but we didn’t find anyone that we felt comfortable with. Finally, we found one about. we we’re welcome with arms. It was then I started fweeling like a normal hyuman being. I went to the pastor right away and taold of my BP. He acepted it well. Now I have a new family, things are looking up and my faith is growing stonger by each passing day. God is good and will always be with me so I am never alone. If only I could have figured this out before. My moods Swings are not as often and I finally feel normal(if there is such a thing) I just know I am finally making new freinds and leaning on Jesus Christ as my personal savior and with Him all things are possible.

12. Melissa Giesbrecht on March 20, 2008 5:06 am

    A grateful outlook impacts my mood and health the same way cognitive behavoural therapy (CBT) does. Looking close enough to see some good in this journey prevents me from standing back from my situation far enough to make grand sweeping negative generalizations. For example, I could say, “I always get dealt such shitty hands in life & nothing is ever easy for me.” But if I look a little closer at my life there are some good things. My husband hasn’t left me (that’s huge!). Or, better that I was diagnosed now than towards the end of my life (after I’d completely ruined my kids). Also, I have a great psychiatrist and a supportive family doctor. But I kid you not, it is most definitely a choice. Stay stable, maybe feel good OR have my mood spiral downward out of control soon to be followed by self destructive habits & suicidal feelings. Some days I choose the downward spiral. Bad choice but it’s my choice to make. Live and learn. Other days, I’m thankful for a thing or two. Somedays it’s more difficult and “I’m thankful for….something, think of something, anything,” and I’m standing so close to my life and looking so intently that my nose is smushed up against the glass. So today I’ll be thankful for finding this blog and having the opportunity to read other bipolar people’s thoughts. Do they sound as desparate as I often feel? Yup. Nice to not be alone on that one.

13. Gilbertahv on March 26, 2008 6:02 am

    thats for sure, brother

14. Sarah on June 20, 2008 8:04 pm

    OK - hate me for sounding so corny, but I do like in the Bing Crosby song in White Christmas and “go to sleep counting my blessings”. This is great in a few different ways - it remnids me of the good things in my life as, like many bipolar people, I really made a mess of things before I got treatment so I MUST keep some focus on the positive instead of my lost marriage, career, home, finances, etc. Also, if I am having trouble sleeping it means I am using the time in a calming and postive way instead of moving into mania or depression. I also believe that there is some metaphysical power to it - taht pouring out gratitude means more focus and attention is placed on good things, which in turn creates more good. Bitterness is too dangerous a mindset if you have bipolar because of the inclination to anger and depression. To me, gratitude is like a weapon I can use against this darkness.

15. chato on September 17, 2008 6:53 pm

    sometimes it is some hard to thankful for looking through such pessimistic eyes… I know having 4 kids I and thankful that they are healthy so that is a start.

    Chato’s cartoons for Mental Health
    http://mentalhealthhumor.today.com/